Leading figures in European football have called on the European Union to intervene in the leadership of Fifa amid growing concerns over its governance and transparency. In a joint letter addressed to the EU’s sport commissioner, Glenn Micallef of Malta, the heads of the Danish, Swedish, and Finnish football associations expressed serious apprehension about the direction of the global football governing body under President Gianni Infantino.

The letter criticized Infantino’s controversial plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup, which had been valued at £15 billion. The football officials voiced their worry about the opaque nature of the proposal and questioned who ultimately holds control over the future of the sport. They urged the EU to step in to safeguard football’s integrity and prevent it from being subject to commercial dealings that could undermine its core values.

Beyond the national football associations, prominent figures within European club football have also voiced criticism of Infantino’s tenure. Fernando Carro, chief executive of German club Bayer Leverkusen and a notable voice in continental football circles, has called for Infantino to resign from his position, highlighting the widespread unease among football administrators and stakeholders.

The call for EU involvement reflects a broader debate around governance and oversight within international sports organizations, where transparency and accountability have increasingly become focal points for reform advocates. The letter from the Nordic football bodies represents a rare appeal from major football stakeholders for external regulatory intervention in what is traditionally a self-governing international federation.

Fifa has not publicly responded to the letter, and Infantino remains in his post, having led the organization since 2016. The proposed sale of a World Cup stake was met with mixed reactions within the football community and was ultimately shelved amid the criticism.

As this dispute unfolds, the European football leaders’ appeal underscores ongoing tensions regarding the balance between commercial interests and maintaining the sport’s foundational principles. Whether the European Union will take action remains uncertain, but the growing calls for scrutiny illustrate the challenges facing football’s global governance.